Some agriculture programs on hold with no Farm Bill

Photo by Joseph Bell
Eric Bridges, center, executive director at North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission [NCPRPDC], speaks Wednesday alongside Douglas Morley, right, a two-term commissioner from Potter County and the chairman of the executive board at North Central; and June Sorg, secretary/treasurer of the executive board and an Elk County commissioner.

For the second time in 39 years, a federal Farm Bill governing the nation's farm and food aid policy is set to expire at the end of September.
According to Eric Bridges, executive director of the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission [NCPRPDC], Congress has decided to postpone negotiations over how to reauthorize those programs until after the November elections.
"Although both Senate and House leaders stated that their chambers will act on the stalled legislation when Congress returns in November, neither provided details on how they intend to negotiate a final Farm Bill during a lame-duck session," Bridges said. "When they revisit the matter in November, negotiations will not be easy."